For his work on The Trial of the Chicago 7, Alan Baumgarten, ACE won the marquee Best Edited Dramatic Feature honor from the America Cinema Editors 71st annual Eddie Awards during a virtual ceremony on Saturday (4/17).
Baumgarten topped a field of nominees which also consisted of Kirk Baxter, ACE for Mank, Mikkel E.G. Nielsen for Sound of Metal, Harry Yoon, ACE for Minari, and Chloé Zhao for Nomadland.
In his acceptance remarks, Baumgarten gave thanks to The Trial of the Chicago 7 writer-director Aaron Sorkin and varied colleagues, including sound supervisor Renee Tondelli and his editing team members–assistant Kaitlyn Ali, 2nd assistant Brandon Marchionda and additional editor Christine Kim.
Baumgarten also expressed appreciation for his wife who normally has to endure the editor bringing his work home with him–in his mind. But with the pandemic, editor Baumgarten literally had to bring his work home replete with equipment and other resources.
The award was presented virtually to Baumgarten by Promising Young Woman writer-director Emerald Fennell and star Carey Mulligan, both in the U.K.
Rounding out the field of ACE Eddie feature winners were: Matthew Friedman, ACE and Andrew Dickler for Best Edited Comedy Feature on the strength of Palm Springs; Kevin Nolting, ACE for Soul, named Best Edited Animated Feature Film; and Pippa Ehrlich and Dan Schwalm for My Octopus Teacher, the Best Edited Documentary Feature.
On the television side, comedy honors went to Trevor Ambrose, CCE for Schitt’s Creek (comedy series for commercial TV) and Melissa McCoy for Ted Lasso (comedy series for non-commercial TV). Taking commercial and non-commercial TV drama series honors were, respectively, Joey Liew and Chris McCaleb, CAE for Better Call Saul, and Cindy Mollo, ACE for Ozark.
Among other TV winners were: The Queen’s Gambit earned Best Edited Limited Series distinction for Michelle Tesoro, ACE; The Last Dance scored in the Best Edited Documentary (Non-Theatrical) category for Chad Beck, ACE, Devin Concannon, Abhay Sofsky and Ben Sozanski, ACE; and topping the Best Edited Variety Talk/Sketch Show or Special was Adam Gough, ACE for David Byrne’s American Utopia.
The latter was directed by Spike Lee who won the ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award, recognizing a filmmaker who exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film and film editors Lynzee Klingman, ACE and Sidney Wolinsky, ACE received Career Achievement Awards for their outstanding contributions to film editing.
Here’s a category-by-category rundown of ACE Eddie Award winners:
BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (DRAMATIC)
The Trial of Chicago 7
Alan Baumgarten, ACE
BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (COMEDY)
Palm Springs
Matthew Friedman, ACE and Andrew Dickler
BEST EDITED ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Soul
Kevin Nolting, ACE
BEST EDITED DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE)
My Octopus Teacher
Pippa Ehrlich, Dan Schwalm
BEST EDITED DOCUMENTARY (NON-THEATRICAL)
The Last Dance “Episode I”
Chad Beck, ACE, Devin Concannon, Abhay Sofsky, Ben Sozanski, ACE
BEST EDITED COMEDY SERIES FOR COMMERCIAL TELEVISION
Schitt’s Creek “Happy Ending”
Trevor Ambrose, CCE
BEST EDITED COMEDY SERIES FOR NON-COMMERCIAL TELEVISION
Ted Lasso “Make Rebecca Great Again”
Melissa McCoy
BEST EDITED DRAMA SERIES FOR COMMERCIAL TELEVISION
Better Call Saul “Bad Choice Road”
Joey Liew, Chris McCaleb, ACE
BEST EDITED DRAMA SERIES FOR NON-COMMERCIAL TELEVISION
Ozark “Wartime”
Cindy Mollo, ACE
BEST EDITED LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE FOR TELEVISION
The Queen’s Gambit “Exchanges”
Michelle Tesoro, ACE
BEST EDITED NON-SCRIPTED SERIES
Cheer “God Blessed Texas”
Kate Hackett, Arielle Kilker, Daniel McDonald, Mark Morgan, David Nordstrom, Sharon Weaver, Ted Woerner
BEST EDITED VARIETY TALK/SKETCH SHOW OR SPECIAL
David Byrne’s American Utopia
Adam Gough, ACE
BEST EDITED ANIMATION (NON-THEATRICAL)
Rick and Morty “Rattlestar Ricklactica”
Lee Harting
ANNE V. COATES STUDENT EDITING AWARD
Samuel Bailey
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
